Tesco engulfed in "forced labour" furore over work experience

Not so super: Protesters picket the Tesco Express store at Westminster Station (Image: Paul Marriott)

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Tesco is engulfed in a furious row over claims work ­experience at its stores is “forced labour” for the jobless.

The supermarket giant last night denied it was exploiting a flagship ­Government scheme to hire workers without paying them.

But it faced mounting protests yesterday, along with calls for a boycott of its shops.

Tesco pulled the Government into the row by urging ministers to change the rule that those who do work experience risk losing benefits if they quit after their first week.

But Tory Employment Minister Chris ­Grayling declared that the ­suggestion that work experience was forced labour was “absurd”.

The row started over an ad for a “no wages” night-shift worker at a Suffolk Tesco offering just ­expenses plus Jobseeker’s ­Allowance.

Right to Work spokesman Sam James said: “This is another example of working class people being forced to pay for a crisis created by the greed of the rich. Tesco is cashing in on misery. Perhaps this is what it means by ‘every little helps’.”

Tesco and the Government ­say any suggestion in the advert that the position was a job rather than work experience was an error.

But yesterday police had to break up a group of protesters at a Tesco opposite the House of Commons.

Campaigners called on high-street chains not to support attempts to make the jobless work for up to six months or risk losing benefits.

They also seized on Tesco’s ­disclosure that only 300 people out of 1,400 who had worked without pay at the company over the past four months had landed a job.

Mr Grayling said the “sector-based work academies” scheme was ­voluntary and a job interview was guaranteed. But those who join risk losing benefits if they quit after working for at least a week.

Mr Grayling said: “The idea that providing work experience for ­unemployed young people is some kind of forced labour is utterly and completely absurd.”

Tesco put pressure on him to make the scheme completely voluntary.

A spokesman said: “We have ­suggested that, to avoid any ­misunderstanding, this threat of losing benefit be ­removed. No-one is under any obligation to take part in the scheme.”

The company said it would not take part in a ­compulsory scheme.

Mr Grayling said he was “happy to discuss options”, paving the way for a possible climbdown.

Other companies, including TK Maxx, have dropped the scheme.

The firm said: “We do not ­currently support compulsory, non-paid work experience.” Sainsbury’s only offers ­placements if there is a chance of paid jobs at the end of them.